**Warning: Contains Spoilers for The Incredible Hulk #24!** The Hulk stands as one of the mightiest heroes within the Marvel Universe, primarily recognized for his incredible super-strength and nearly indestructible durability. However, he possesses a less frequently acknowledged, yet potent ability that stands out as perhaps his most formidable power. Although this ability had previously been spotlighted in earlier narrative arcs, it seemed to vanish after those stories concluded, leaving fans to believe it was lost forever.
In The Incredible Hulk #24, crafted by the creative duo Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Kev Walker, Bruce Banner and his companion, Charlie Tidwell, venture to Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum. To their dismay, Doctor Strange is absent, engaged in a significant quest in Asgard, vying for the title of Asgardian Sorcerer Supreme against a new foe—Doctor Doom. Instead, they encounter Clea, who welcomes them within the sanctum. However, there’s a significant twist. Clea directs Bruce to a specific chamber within the Sanctum—a pocket dimension where gamma radiation has no influence, effectively suppressing the Hulk’s powers.
Clea justifies this precaution by explaining the necessity of safeguarding herself and Charlie from the Hulk, who could cause catastrophic destruction. Seeking assistance regarding Charlie’s possession by the Mother of Skinwalkers, Lycana, Banner consents to Clea’s terms. However, the encounter takes a harrowing turn when it’s revealed that Clea is not who she appears to be; instead, she is yet another Skinwalker intent on hunting Charlie. This deception leads to an ambush from a horde of Skinwalkers, who gruesomely tear apart Bruce and consume him.
In a surprising turn of events, once the Skinwalkers devour Bruce Banner, gamma energy is reactivated, unleashing the Hulk’s fury despite Banner’s dismemberment. The distinct fragments of Banner’s body transform into separate manifestations of the Hulk, leading to an extraordinary confrontation where the Hulk dispatches the Skinwalkers, ultimately reuniting himself and ensuring liberation for both himself and Charlie, enabling them to continue their mission to confront Lycana.
The Hulk’s Resurrection: A Return to Immortality
Misconceptions About the Hulk’s Immortality Post-The Immortal Hulk
Throughout The Immortal Hulk, the Hulk’s remarkable immortality was explicitly demonstrated. However, following the climax of this series, many fans believed his immortal status had concluded. The intricacies of his immortality are rooted in the gamma energies emanating from the Below-Place, an otherworldly dimension. When the Hulk is slain, his essence transitions to the Below-Place, allowing him to resurrect through a portal known as the Green Door.
This concept is richly explored in The Immortal Hulk, yet the narrative concluded with the Green Door sealed, prompting worries that the Hulk’s ability to resurrect had been permanently revoked. The assumption was clear: without access to the Green Door, the Hulk’s future encounters with mortality would yield finality. However, the recent developments in The Incredible Hulk #24 suggest a dramatic turn of fate, indicating that the Green Door has reopened, thus reestablishing the Hulk’s immortality—this time, seemingly for good.
Implications of the Hulk’s Reclaimed Immortality for His Future
The Hulk Continues His Battle Against the One Below All
In the current narrative arc of The Incredible Hulk, the Mother of Horrors emerges as the Hulk’s primary antagonist, positioning herself as a historical adversary of the One Below All. The entities the Hulk combats represent the champions of the Mother of Horrors, while the Hulk stands as a champion for the One Below All. Notably, the One Below All, as delineated in The Immortal Hulk, endeavored to breach into the mortal realm, aiming for global domination, an endeavor thwarted by the Hulk’s acts of sealing the Green Door.
With the Hulk’s recent resurrection firmly suggesting the Green Door has swung open anew, the One Below All is now poised to renew his conquest. While the Hulk is focused primarily on battling the monstrosities birthed from the Mother of Horrors and aiding Charlie, the true specter of his conflict remains the One Below All, echoing the enduring themes from The Immortal Hulk. The confirmation of the Hulk’s renewed immortality only complicates his destiny, ensuring that the stakes remain perilously high in this captivating saga.
The Incredible Hulk #24 from Marvel Comics is out now, ready to immerse readers in the Hulk’s exhilarating journey.